Farmers blocked NH 200 against government apathy

Movement of traffic came to a halt on NH 200 on Monday following road blockade agitation of farmers at Bhainrkhol chowck under Lakhanpur police station of Jharsuguda district. Thousands of farmers assembled on the spot to protest the government negative attitude on agriculture sector. They also decided to bring out a massive agitation incase government does not take appropriate step to protect the interest of the farmers.

“We consider farmers’ suicide deaths are having a direct link with the wrong agriculture policy of the state government. But instead of realizing the mistake, government is trying to suppress the issue by giving false statement. So we take up this agitation only to protest the government’s attitude”, Gopinath Majhi one of the convener of the agitation told.

The statement of the state agriculture minister and government officials on the farmer suicide has irked the farmers of the region. “Forget about the minister when district collector has not visited the village till date. But with out visiting or verifying the truth if they say suicide has no relation with crop loss one can understand their intension”, another convenor Jitendra Pradhan told .The agitated farmers demanded a compensation of Rs.2 lakhs to each deceased family committed suicide, amending the report of director declare Lakhanpur block as draught, consider panchayat as unit in crop insurance, waiving of loan taken in current Kharif season, free provision of seeds fertilizers and electricity for the ensuing crop, functioning of the lift points, irrigation facility from reservoir to Lakhanpur block.

“Apart from these demands, we have decided to bring out a massive agitation in Lakhanpur block of the Jharsuguda district in the near future to show the strength of the farmers of the locality”, Ananta Panda told

On the other hand political leaders including Hemananda Biswal, Suresh Pujari, local legislature Anup Sai and farmer leader Ashok Pradhan have extended their support to the agitated farmers by participating in the agitation that continued till 4 pm.

Sagarpali farmer death: an eye opening for farmers

The farmer’s death in Sagarpali village in Jharsuguda district seemed to be an eye opener for the farmers of the locality who have been suffering the injustice ever since the construction of the Hirakud dam. The farmers have decided to bring out a massive agitation against the government’s wrong policy and to start with the proposed agitation they are going to block the NH 200 at Bhainrkhol chowck on Monday from 8 am to 4 pm.

“It is really a matter of regret that farmer of our village dies committing suicide for crop loss due to poor rainfall. Surprisingly the village got reconstructed near the old-one after that was submerged in Hirakud reservoir. We reside on the bank of reservoir ever since the dam was constructed but due to wrong policy of the government we do not get reservoir water for irrigation”, a villager of Sagarpali, Bhaskar Pradhan told. “One can understand our sorrow of net getting the benefit of the dam where 70 percent of our village has been submerged. No one realizes the contribution that our forefathers”, Pradhan added.

Sources said, a farmer of the village Gurahari Patra died committing suicide on 4^th Oct following a heavy loss of crop due to poor rainfall and insects.

“He was farming seriously by taking cooperative loan of Rs. 20 thousand. But he was mentally upset after seeing heavy crop damages. He committed suicide consuming pesticide leaving his widow and 4 son and daughters” another villager Panchan Saa told.

According to him villagers become angry following the statement of the concern minister and district officials on the death of Gourahari. “When every one knows his death has a direct link with the crop loss, one should not give derogative statement on him with out verifying the truth”, villager Loknath Sahu opined.

Meanwhile, a team of state communist party visited the village to console deceased family on Sunday. Even becoming the alliance partner, the CPI demanded proper attention of the government on this issue. “We affirm the death was due to crop loss so with out making any delay in setting inquiry commission the CM Navin Patink should intervene the matter to prevent such cases in the state.”, state secretariat member Ashok Bishi told to TOI on Sunday. Surprisingly even 14 days after the incident, the collector has not visited the village to console the deceased family

locals irked over 'Samalai Hundi' thieve

Condemning regular theft from the Hundi of the famous maa Samaleswari temple, locals demand proper investigation to trace the culprits. A group of local youths under the banner of the Sambalpur Jagaran Manch submitted a memorandum to the district administration on Friday. They also asked the administration to provide regular police patrolling during night hours around the temple to ensure no further repetition of such incident.

“We are quite surprised on the repeated incident of theft from the temple Hundi Even godly places are not spared. So we submitted a memorandum to the district administration to trace out the culprits and to ensure proper security arrangement in the temple during night hours” Goutam Halder, the convener of the Manch told.

Sources said, Samaleswari temple of Sambalpur is quite famous in the locality as thousands of devotees visit the temple every day. But on special occasions, especially during ‘Dushhera’ the number goes up. Huge collections of donations are expected from devotes through the ‘Hundi’. But the managing trustee remains in dark about the exact collection of donation because of the regular theft incident. Miscreants decamp with money by breaking the lock of the ‘hundi’.

“We do not know the exact amount of collection from the Hundi because of theft. We make a complaint before the police every time it occurs but police are yet to trace the culprits. So we are planning to install close circuit camera inside the temple very soon’, president of the temple trustee Sadashiv Mohapatra told.

It may be mentioned here that miscreants decamped with huge sum from the ‘hundi’ breaking its lock just couple of days ago. Police registered a case basing on the complaint of the managing trustee but failed to trace the accused. “Investigation is on. But we are yet to find out the culprits”, town police officer Akash Sahu told. “It is a serious issue. I will personally request the SP to investigate the matter”, the ADM NK Satpathy assured the members of the Manch while receiving the memorandum from them of Friday.

girl chopped off her tongue to get 'choice' match

A 19-year-old girl chopped off her tongue inside a Shiva temple and offered it to the god at Jhar village in Bargarh. She did so to invoke the god's blessings to marry the person she desired instead of the match fixed by her parents. She narrated her story when the temple priest found her lying in the temple with blood on her face on Tuesday morning.

Sources said, the victim Renubala, daughter of Birabahu Naik of Khapanpali had gone to the Shiva temple of Jhar during late night to invoke the blessing of the god. She chopped off her tongue with a blade to offer it to lord Shiva. The temple priest was the first to discover her lying in a shocking condition inside the temple. Victim divulged her story when the priest enquired her condition.

"I was shocked to see her lying on the temple floor in the morning. She was bleeding from her face. She had chopped her tongue off with a blade and offered it to the god," priest of the temple Basudev Mohapatra told TOI.

Villagers rushed to the temple when the news spread. They tried to take her to the hospital but she refused. "We tried to take her to the nearby hospital but she refused to go anywhere," villager Narayan Meher said.

Even the police rushed to the spot and persuaded her to take her to hospital. But Police became powerless before her farm-faith on God. “Police went back after she declared stay inside the temple for a total 21 days’, another villager said.

Sources said the girl was against her marriage schedules in December because the groom was quite older to her. She was interested to marry a younger one. So she did this with a belief that she would get her choice match if she could please the God by offering her tongue.

police arrested two on the officer manhandled incident

Police arrested two local BJP leaders on Monday night in connection with the manhandled incident of deputy director (agriculture), Sambalpur. Police took this action soon after receiving a complaint from one of the subordinate staff of the victim officer. Both were sent to judicial custody after the magistrate rejected the bail plea.

Police sources said, two party leaders that took active part in the manhandled incident of the officer occurred in the Gangadhar mandap on Monday have been arrested soon after receiving a complint. The two are identified as Jaybrat Dey and Debasis Purohit. “We arrest Dey from his residence and Purohit from Zilla school chowck. We have sent them to judicial custody soon magistrate rejected their bail applications”. SDPO (Sambalpur) DK Deo told.

It may be mentioned here that angry mob led by BJP leader Jayabrat Dey manhandled the deputy director of agriculture DC Pal here at Gangadhar Mandap while the Krusak mela was under progress. The agitators had blacken the face of the officer and made him walk on the street. Police rescued him when the mob taken him to the office of collector. They alleged that the officer with out going to respective villages had prepared faulty report on farmers’ suicide.

Reacting on the arrest of party workers, the state BJP president Suresh Pujari said, agitation against injustice of farmers would continue in spite of the arrest of the workers. “Let police do their work”, Pujari said. Hinting on a full-fledged statewide agitation against the government’s anti-farmers policy, he said, “ BJP will bring out a strong agitation against the government’s anti-farmers policy very soon”

On the other hand the farmers association has warned the officials not to give any derogative statement on farmers suicide with out going into detail of the fact. The farmer leaders alleged that the Sambalpur Sub-collector Kailash Chandra Sahu had given derogative comments on the farmers’ suicide. But he left Sambalpur after hearing the incident of the deputy director. “He was supposed to convene the meeting of the Pani Panchayat was scheduled for on Monday afternoon. But sub-collector left Sambalpur before the scheduled time after hearing the incident of DDA”, farmer leader M Govindu told. “The officer was in target for giving derogative comments on the farmers suicide”, he added.

officer face was blackened over faulty report on farmer's suicide

In connection with the suicide of the farmers in Jharsuguda and Sambalpur in last week, enraged BJP workers manhandled and thrashed Sambalpur deputy director of Agriculture Mr. DC Pal on Monday at Gangadhar Mandap, here just minutes before inauguration of Krusak Mela-2009 where he was invited as a guest. The officer was made to walk on the street after painting black on his face. The officer was than rescued by the police at collector office. However no case was register by the police till evening in absent of any complaint from the officer. The mela which was continued with out any inauguration as all other dignitaries and senior government officers including collector and RDC did not turn up to the spot after the incident.

“We rescued him after he was taken to the collector office premises. When we got the information about the incident it was all over. However we prevented the mob at Gangadhar Mandap when they were creating vandalism to close the mela”, SDPO (Sambalpur) Dilip Kumar Deo told. However he denied of receiving any complaint from the officer about the incident. We are waiting for the complaint. We will investigate the issue once we receive complaint from the victim officer”, Mr. Deo added.

Sources said, the deputy director was entrusted by the government to submit a report on the suicidal deaths of two farmers who died in Jharsuguda on 4^th Oct and in Sambalpur on 7^th October. The officer with out visiting the spots submitted reports where he citied the cause as ‘family dispute’.

“The DDA has submitted reports to the government citing deaths of farmers have no relation with the crop loss or agriculture loan. When every one knows that destruction of paddy is due to poor rain fall and attack of Leda poka, the officer misleads government by submitting false report just sitting in his office. So in order to teach him a lesson we did it”, a BJP worker told.

Incidentally a team of BJP high level leaders led by state president Suresh Pujari visited the Khapsadea village (Sambalpur district) on Monday where a farmer had committed suicide on 7^th October. The senior party leaders including Kharabela Swain, Monmohan Samal, Dharmendra Pradhan and Surendra Lath while expressing their anguish over the incident blamed the government for not showing any sympathetic attitude towards the farmers of the region. “Every one knows that this time heavy crop damage has occurred due to poor rainfall and attack insects. But if you misled the fact than you have to pay the price”, BJP president Suresh Pujari told signaling on the incident of Deputy Director of Agriculture. “However we do not approve the incident occurred in Sambalpur but these types of incidents are inevitable if government continues to neglect the agriculture sector” Pujari added.

college boy died drowning

In a drowning incident, a student of local NSCB College died in Maltijore nulla at Gunderpur under Dhama police station in Sambalpur on Thursday afternoon. The fire brigade and police fished out his body from the nulla soon after the incident. However the incident triggered wide spread tension among the local who blocked Dhanupali-Dhama road for few hours demanding compensation to the deceased family. Police sources said, 3 boys from Netaji Subash Chandra Bose college of Sambalpur had been to the Nulla in the noon taking bath. One named Saurav Dey (17) of Bengalipara of the town was drowned in the nulla because of the heavy water current. Agitators cleared the road after assurance given by the local police.

another farmer commited suicide: this time it is in Sambalpur

When the government machineries are busy to patch up Jharsuguda farmer’s suicide incident, yet another similar incident that occurs Sambalpur district on Wednesday evening has created a real hard time for the state government to over come the situation. In the recent incident a farmer of the khapsadera village under Tamperkela GP with in Rengali police station limits in Sambalpur district has committed suicide consuming pesticide after he fails to repay the loans. Sambalpur police registered a case and sent the body for autopsy on Thursday. With this death toll in farmers suicide has gone up to 3 in the region in the current session and it is 2^nd incident in Sambalpur district over the past 2 months.

“He was brought to hospital in a serious condition. Doctor declared him brought dead. We registered case and sent his body today for autopsy”, town police told TOI on Thursday.

Sources said, victim Bidyadhar Bagh (40) a farmer from tribal community of Khapsadera village under Tamperkela GP was cropping 3 acres land taking loan of Rs 15 thousands from co-villagers. He was mentally upset following severe loss in the paddy. On Wednesday evening consumed pesticide and died on the way to hospital.

Collector sectioned Rs. 3 thousands from Red Cross fund for his cremation and directed for an inquiry. “Sub collector and Tahasildar have been deputed to the spot to examine the situation. Action would be initiated once I get the report from my officers”, collector (Sambalpur) P K Patnaik told

On the other hand the incident sparks serious concern among the local farmers who accuse state government’s anti-farmer policy is responsible for such incident. “Blind industrialization and anti-farmer policy of the government force farmer to kill self.” Farmers’ leader Ashok Pradhan told.

It may mentioned here that 4 days back (4th Oct) a farmer committed suicide in Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district after he failed to repay the cooperative loans. But district administration at Jharsuguda and state agriculture department tried every way to patch up the matter citing ‘family disturbance’ led him to commit suicide. Earlier in August 11^th a farmer named Pandab Bhoi (40) had committed suicide in Gulamal village in Sambalpur district for similar reason, sources said

farmer killed self in Jharsuguda

Industrial growth may change the fate of few outside industrialist but it has failed to rescue the farmers of the state who are struggling for their survival. This has been proved from the incident occurred in the Jharsuguda district on Sunday when a farmers committed suicide consuming pesticide. Villagers claim he took the step as he failed to repay society loan owing to severe crop loss. Police registered a case of unnatural death but unable to recover the dead body because of the protest of the villagers who blocked the NH 200 demanding compensation. It was possible only when the revenue officials of the district rushed to the spot and assured the villagers for proper compensation to the deceased family. But due to sun shed police conducted autopsy on Monday.

Sources said, 48 years old Gourhari Patra of Sagarpali village under Bhaurkhol GP of Lakhanpur block in Jharsuguda district, 120 km away from here committed suicide by consuming pesticide on Sunday. He was rescued by the villager in a serious condition and taken to the Lakhanpur public Health Centre, where he was declared dead. The villagers blocked the national high way 200 at Lakhanpur demanding compensation to the deceased family. Police rushed to the spot but unable to recovered the dead body because of the protest of the villagers.

“We finally recovered the dead body of the deceased in the evening after the villagers called off their agitation on the assurance of the revenue officials present on the spot. We handed over the body to the deceased family after conducting autopsy on Monday”, a senior police officer of Jharsuguda district told.

Sources said, Low rain fail coupled with invasion of ledapoka (army insect) caused heavy crop damage in various parts of the western Orissa. Jharsuguda’s Lakhanpur block was one of the worst affected areas where farmers had brought the situation into the notice of district administration as well as the government on several occasions. “But neither the government nor the district administration puts any heed to our request”, a villager Narayan Majhi told.

According a source, deceased had taken agriculture loan of Rs. 20 thousand from the Bhaurkhol cooperative society and another few thousands from other co-villagers. He had assured to repay these loans after harvesting was over. But to his bad luck, he sustained a huge loss due to crop damage. Source also claimed that deceased was mentally upset because of the financial pressure for the expenditure of leutani (return of married daughter who comes during Dussehra). It may be informed that out of his 3 daughters 2 had already got married.

On the other hand the district administration has directed the subordinate official to submit a report on the death for further action. “I have asked the tahasilar to enquiry the incident. Action would be initiated once I get the report”, collector (Jharsuguda) D Dash told.

Meanwhile the farmer leaders blame the government for farmer suicidal death. They apprehend a worst situation in future if timely action is not initiated to rescue the farmers. “Blind industrialization and anti-farmer policy of the government force the farmers to kill self. Earlier Orissa was free from such incident but now the wrong policy adopted by state government would outnumber the death toll of Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh in near future”, farmer leader Ashok Pradhan told

durgapuja medha in sambalpur

photo feature

durgapuja in Sambalpur

Beckoning with glittering lights and high-rise Pendals, the Euphoria of ‘Dusherra’ begins in Sambalpur town with the beginning of Durgapuja. Despite ascending in materials cost, pendals are decorated with colourful clothes to erect replica of various monuments of the country. However the Pendal builders do not feel happy with the soaring cost of wooden batten and bamboo that are mainly used for framing high-raised pendals in order to make it eye catching.

“We sustained a huge loss because of the price rise of batten and Bamboo in the recent time. Since it is my hobby and this gives me immense pleasure, I do not want to leave this work. But hardly have I got a return from this work because of the constant price rise”, pendal builder Srikrushna Rath told to TOI while describing his difficulties.

Srikrushna Rath, a local tent house owner described that he got inspire to enter in pendal building trade way back 1997 when he was reading in high school. In those days it was trade confined with in Cuttack and Kolkata traders. Since no local man was in this trade, Rath wanted to test his luck in this trade and began his career 1998 when he got an opportunity of erecting Sakhipara pendal.

“I got inspired from the daggling works that were taken place in the town by the builders of Cuttack and Kolkata when I was reading in a school in Sambalpur. Latter I got an opportunity to do this and now I work for 4 to 5 pendals at a time under my supervision”Rath told. “I do not know how long I will continue to do this work as this is no more a profitable trade”, Rath added

According to him for super finishing he brings artists and labourers from Dhenkanal for which he spends huge some on them. “Though they charge huge amount, by engaging them I can ensure the work in time”, Rath added. .

Like Rath there are few other pendal builders who thing the pendal work has no future because of the constant price rise of the materials. “Though we sustain loss in the pendal works we get some return by using the batten and bamboo in others works such as marriage decoration and VVIP galleries of various political parties. But it depends on the numbers of such work we get in a year”, another builder Bablu Dash told. “More over we do not want to cut off the relation with the members of Puja committees”, Dash added.

On the other hand the Puja committees suffer severe financial difficulties because of poor collection of chandas. Few committees have switched over to selling lottery tickets to increase Puja funds. You just can not depend on collection of donation. “We have few fixed organizations and persons who we request to give donation. But we get a huge fund from lottery works”, a member of the Govindtola puja committee told.

Sources said, Sambalpur town has more than 60/65 Pendals where Durga puja is being organized every years. Out of these, Dhanupali, Govindtola, Budharaja, Dhuturapara, Dhukupara, Laxmi talkies chowck, Aithapali chowck, Kunjelpara, Jharuapara, Sakti club are prominent among others where big budgeted puja is being organized uninterruptedly every year

GM College student drowned

A student of Gangadhar Meher College Subrat Dhal fears to have drowned in the River Mahanadi in the afternoon of Tuesday at Chipilima, 25 km from here. The incident took place when he along with a group of students of the college were taking bath in the River Mahanadi after visiting the famous Ghanteswari temple located near by.

Police sources said rescue operation was on to search the body of the boy but till evening the police were not successful. “We are searching the body soon we get the information but till evening we remain unsuccessful because of the bad light”, a police officer told.

aurobindo school student died in accident

A student of local Aurobindo School succumbed to his injuries in Hospital after struggling for a week on Sunday. Deceased was injured when a outside boy pelted stone on him while he was coming outside from the school premises after completion of his school examination. School authority how ever does not want to take any responsibility of the incident citing it as an “outside affairs”.

“Since it occurred outside the school we are not at all responsible. However we tried to provide all necessary medical care to the boy soon after we leant about the incident. It is quite unfortunate. He was pelting a stone on a street dog but it hit on the boy”, the school management secretary Manoranjan Patnaik said.

Sources reveled that the boy Abhilash Baragrti was reading in the school in 7^th standard. On 15^th he was coming out from the school after appearing school examination. But before he could go out he was hit with stone on his face just few yards from the school gate. He fell down with severe bleeding injury.

“An outside boy identified as Pintu Bagarti was pelting stone on a dog but accidentally it was hit the boy. We immediately gave first aid treatment and took to the sadar hospital. But when his condition became critical he was shifted to Burla. Later he was shifted to Bhubaneswar and admitted in Ayush Hospital. But he succumbed to his injuries because was a sickle-cell patient”, the principal of the school Jyotsna Mishra told.

“We are repeatedly asking to the police to clear the front gate of the school from the nuisance of the outsiders at least during the closing hours of the school. But it remains unattained by the police”, principal Mishra alleged.

senior manager of aryan ispat arrested for killing wife for dowry

Sambalpur police arrested a senior level executive of an industrial house of here along with his brother and father in charge of killing his wife on Monday. Police registered a case basing on the complaint of the deceased’s father and forwarded them to the judicial custody on Tuesday. The body of the deceased was cremated in Sambalpur by her family members after completion of autopsy.

Souces said, Kailash Mihsra of Bihar’s Madhubani was working as the senior manager (purchase) of Aryan Ispat limited of Rengali in Sambalpur district. He got married to Preeti, daughter of Ramesh Mishra of Majholia (Bihar) on 17^th April 2009. At the time of marriage the bride family supplied all necessary things along with a cash of Rs. 9 lakhs as dowry.“We tried to give all necessary things along with a dowry of Rs. 9 lakhs as per the demand during the marriage. Since Preeti was our only sister we tried to make her happy. But she was being tortured by her in-laws demanding a four wheelers as we could not provide it despite our all efforts”, deceased brother Bipul Mishra told. “On 18^th night she tried to talk with me over phone. But her husband snatched the cell phone from her and threw it on the floor. Police seized the broken cell from the spot which would reveal the real situation”, Bipul added a chocked voice.

Accused Kailash resides in Sambalpur with Preeti in a rental house since after the marriage. But she was tortured by her in laws members during their frequent visits to the house. Father in law Syamdeo Mishra, brother in law Dipak Mishra and sister-in law Chanda were present in the house when the incident took place, sources said.

“Preliminary Investigation revealed that in laws members visit Sambalpur frequently and in that ill fated night father-in law, brother-in law and sister in law were present in the house. We arrested the accused Kailash along with his father Syamdeo and brother Dipak u/s 304 B (dowry death). We forwarded the accused to the judicial custody after registered a case against them. We also handed over the deceased body to her family after autopsy”, SP (Sambalpur) Labakanta Rana told

“However we are waiting for the PM report of the deceased to confirm the cause of the death. But the circumstances and the injuries marks on the deceased body revealed that some outer force was made on her before her death”, Rana added.

Sources said, injury marks on her upper body and sign of strangulation on her neck were clearly visible. “Though we found injury mark on her head and neck still it becomes premature to give any comment with out going through the PM report.”, SP (in charge) Labakanta Rana told.

petrol pump looted at gun point

A group of miscreants decamped with cash and gold ornament worth of few lakh on gun point from a petrol pump located near Godbhaga on NH 6, 30 km away from here on Friday night. They also made two round of black fire to terrorize petrol pump staff. They also attacked the owner and cashier on their protest. The police registered a case but failed to nab the accused.

Police sources said the accused entered the petrol pump (auto care centre) in two bikes and made two rounds of blank fires and entered the cabin of the cashier. The miscreants put a gun on the head of the cashier Seshadev Dash and asked to give the money. The owner Roop Narayan Agrawal was present in the cabin along with his family members by that time. The miscreants also put a gun on the head of Prachi, owner’s younger daughter..

‘The miscreants have looted cash of more than a lakh and gold ornaments of the owner’s wife present there. They have managed to flee the place before us. A case has been registered and investigation is on to nab the accused’, a police officer of Attabira police station told.

According to him the looters seems to be local youths of the age group of 19/20 years. “They all were taking in Sambalpuri language and seemed to be locals”, he added

Vigilance busted a racket preparing adulterate diesel

Vigilance sleuths busted a racket that was preparing adulterate petrol and diesel adding kerosene in Sambalpur on Saturday. Surprisingly the place was located just beck side of the Ainthapali police station of the town but the nefarious act was going on unnoticed over the past few years. The vigilance team seized 30 thousand liters of diesel 14 thousand liters of kerosene and various instruments and machines including pump set, gas cutter, wielding machine, drams etc. The team also seized two tankers from the spot.

Sources said, vigilance came to know about it from a tip off and raided the place with out the knowledge of the local police. Named as Birla complex, the place with number of shopping rooms was under the occupation of Durjodhan Kumbhar who was reportedly running the trade along with his brother-in law.

“By cutting the cover hook with the help of gas cutter, they were drawing diesel from the taker with out destroying the company seal and wielded the cover after refilling same amount of kerosene.”, a senior officer of vigilance told. “A case has been registered by collecting sample for chemical examination’, the officer told.

VSSUT to introduce textile engineering soon

Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology is planning to introduce textile engineering in the institution to strengthen and study of the world famous Sambalpuri fabric. This was disclosed by the vice chancellor of the university Dr. Deb Kumar Tripathy in an exclusive interview with TOI on Friday. Dr. Tripathy joined as the first vice-chancellor of the university on Thursday.

“Burla engineering college is considered to be the oldest engineering college of the state but it remains in the sideline because of the various reasons. Thanks to CM Naveen Patnaik for giving University status to the institution. Our priority will be to make the institution as one of the best of the country and for this we are planning to introduce few new branches of engineering courses. Textile engineering is one among them which will help to strengthen the development of the Sambalpuri fabric. We also plan to introduce Nano-science technology, Bio-medical engineering and surgical engineering soon”, the vice chancellor Dr Tripathy told.

According to him, several modification and changes are to be taken place in the infrastructure of the institution once it becomes university. But since it requires lot of expenditure we want to change it in phase manner. “I am meeting the industry secretary soon to place our immediate requirement. I am hopeful the government would give proper attention to solve the problem of the institution. We have shortage of faculty members. About 44 new faculty members are required immediately. So we advertise this in our website and soon we are able to fill up the posts”, Dr. Tripathy told.

It may be mentioned here that the Burla engineering college, established in the year 1957 is considered as the oldest engineering college of the state. The institution becomes one of the best institutions in the country with in few years. but due to government apathy the institution remains in the side line. It comes under BPUT in the year 2002 after the formation of the technology university. But government declares it as a ‘unitary university’ in 2009 in view of the demand of the students and local people. CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the new University in last February. Government appointed Ganapati Panda as the VC but he did not turn up. Later government appointed Dr. Tripathy as the VC who joined here on Thursday. Prior to taking over the charge, Dr. Tripathy was working as senior faculty of IIT Kharagpur and director of NIT, Waraggal for couple of years.

devotees throng samalai temple on Mahalaya

Thousands of devotees throng in to the temple of Maa Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur region to pay ‘dersan’ of the deity’s “Dhawalamukhi” (white-costume) on the eve of Mahalaya on Friday. Elaborate arrangement was made by the temple trust to ensure the comfort of the devotees coming across the state and neighboring Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

Sources said the presiding deity of Sambalpur Ma Samaleswari remains in red-costume round the year except on the day of Mahalaya when the costume of the deity changes to white. The sebayats and priests of the temple remain busy in the previous night for hours together to prepare the costume of the deity. During the Dusherra, the deity changes to various costume in every day. But on Mahalaya the deity’s costume becomes white as it is believed to be most pious one. On Friday when the temple was opened for the devotees at 4 o clock morning it was seen that thousands of devotees were already present in the temple gate for Darsan. Elaborate police arrangement was made to ensure peaceful darsan.

Sources said the devotees were waiting in long queue outside the temple to pay ‘darsan’ of the deity.” Special arrangement has been made to give comfort to the devotees during their long queue on the eve of Mahalaya. For the parking of vehicles of devotees coming from the far distance of Andhra and Chhatishgarh, arrangement have been made at the backside of the temple” trust board chairman Sadashiv Mahapatra told.

It is believed that darsan dhawalamukhi (white costume) is equivalent to “Ganga” darsan. So a large number of devotees come on the day to have a glimpse of the white costume. “Dhawalamukhi besha of maa Samaleswari is considered as most pious one as it comes only on the day of Mahalaya. The white costume of Maa Samaleswari is equivalent to Ganga darsan and one can get the same result of Ganga darsan” a priest of the temple Pitamber Rai told

wesco office ransacked by its workers

Agitating employees of the WESCO went rampage and ransacked its corporate office at Burla on Monday alleging apathetic attitude of the management towards them. They were sitting in a demonstration under the banner of Hira GED workers union, in support of their 4 charters demands. The agitators went violent when they learnt about the absent of the CEO in his office despite their prior notice.

“We had already circulated our demonstration notice to the CEO of Wesco and other officials with a request to remain present in the office for a constructive solution of our demands. But surprisingly the CEO went Bhubanewar on the previous night with out considering the demands of the employees. This was sufficient to enrage the employees. So what happened was the reflection of the anguish of the employees”, the president of the Hira GTD workers union Lalit Nayak told.

According to him the union has been fighting against the policy of the WESCO since its inception as the company does not consider the service condition of its employees. Company has engaged contractual employee through outsourcing. Several posts are lying vacant and the management does not take step to fill up the vacancy.

“We wanted to discuss these problems with the CEO of the company on Monday soon after completion of our demonstration. But it was not possible because the CEO went to Bhubaneswar on the previous night with out considering the fate of hundreds employees”, the president of the union Nayak said.

“How ever we are ready for further discussion with the WESCO management to solve the problems of the employees. But incase the management does not take the matter seriously we warn the management for bigger consequences”, Nayak told. On the other hand the CEO of Wesco Prasant Pradhan was not available for his comment.

police nabbed 2 with fire arms in Burla

Police arrested 2 persons of a gang and seized 2 illegal arms with a live cartridge from their possession while the miscreants were inside the VSS medical Hospital campus on Monday. The two were wanted by the police in connection with the firing incident occurred on the previous night at Khetrajpur area where two sustained bullet injuries. Sambalpur police had already arrested a person in the firing incident. Police apprehend a link with the miscreant in the illegal arm trade that was going on in the town.

Sources said, few members belong to one gang were assembled in Khetrajpur area on Sunday while they had a hot discussion over some silly matter. One Kanha barged with a country made pistol poked on another Persons of the gang. It got fired while the other person was trying to snatch it. Both sustained minor injuries.

When we got the information we chased the gang and nabbed Kanha in the night. Basing on his information we caught another two from the Burla hospital along with the fire arms”, SDPO (Sambalpur) D K Deo told.

Police identified them as notorious criminals of Sambalpur Subash Kalet and Muna Amat and they were wanted by the police in various cases pending against them in different police stations of the town. “We have registered cases against the accused persons and they will be forwarded to the judicial custody on Tuesday”, SDPO Deo told.

cop busted fake spices factory in Bargarh

The Bargarh police busted 3 ‘fake spices factory’ inside the town on Saturday where preparation of adulterate spices was going on since a long time. Police also seized huge quantity of contaminated items including colour, chemicals grinding machines, brick-powder, rice-powder that were mixed to prepare the spices. Bargarh police registered cases against the owners but failed to arrest them as they managed to abscond from the spot.

Police sources said, police got information on a tip off and raided the godown belongs to Binod Agrawal, Ram Nivash Agrawal and Dulichand Sawanria where police seized huge quantity of low quality turmeric, zira (cumin seeds) and dhania (coriander seeds) along with brick powder, rice powder and other chemical powder.. Police also seized packing and stitching machines and grinders from the godowns.

“Fake spices in the name of Maharaja, Balaji, Jai Jagannath and Lalkilla was prepared in these godowns since a long time. We have sealed these places. We will send sample of these items to laboratory for chemical examination”, the in-charge SP (Bargarh) B K Dash told. “We have registered cases against the accused persons but failed to arrest them as they managed to abscond before our raids”, Dash added.

On the other hand people allege that such activity can not run with the active support of the local police. “There are many such godowns in the town where fake food stuffs and items are being prepared and marketed by several unscrupulous merchants. Such activities can not run with out the knowledge of police”, a local business told on anonymity.

Meanwhile, the post of SP of Bargarh district is lying vacant since last 13 days as no one has been posted after the retirement of former SP Ashok Biswal. Since the district does not have a additional SP, the SDPO is presently in charge of the SP.

court declared Paikmal accused as 'fugitive'

In the much hyped Paikmal ‘gang rape’ incident, a judicial court has declared the accused persons as ‘fugitive’ and decides to attach their movable and immovable property if case they are not surrendered before 5^th October 2009. The local police circulated the court notice to the family members of the accused and pasted it in front of their respective houses and made announcement in crowded places by beating drums (degura) on Saturday.

“disposing the application of the CB police on 5^th September, the SDJM court of Padmapur (Bargarh district) declared the accused persons of the Paikmal gang rape case as ‘fugitive’ u/s 80 Cr PC, following their non-appearance despite of having non-bailable warrant against them”, SDPO ( Padmapur) JP Mahapatra told. According to him the court notice describes that properties (both movable and immovable) belong to the accused persons will be attached incase they do not surrender before the court before 5^th Oct.

Sources said, a 24 years unmarried Dalit girl of Bhukhamunda under Paikmal police station of the Bargarh district was allegedly gang raped on Monday (11^th May) while she went to the Paikmal block office to meet the block chairman Mahesh Agrawal in connection to an employment of Anganwadi post. The chairman allegedly exploited her sexually and sent her with one Gananidhi Nag who took her to a godown of Sajan Agrawal where 3 persons including Gunanidhi, Sajan, and Pintu Pradhan raped her. Later she was taken to another place where two namely Kunal Singh Bariha and Kamalesh Sribastav raped her. Basing on the complaint of the victim girl Paikmal police registered a case against the accused persons including the block chairman Mahesh Agrawal, but failed to arrest any one as they managed to flee after the incident.

The incident triggered sharp criticism against the tribal minister Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha for allegedly putting official pressure on the local police to hush up the incident. He was also criticized for shielding the accused persons. While accused Kunal was his nephew, Chairman Mahesh Agrawal was a close aide of the minister. But taking the issue seriously, government handed over the case to the CB police for further investigation and Crime branch police arrested one of the accused Gunanidhi from Raipur soon it took over the investigation.

On the other hand the prime accused Mahesh Agrawal has been remained absconded after his completion of the high court interim bail. The court has passed NBW against him. “The court passed NBW against prime accused Mahesh Agrawal following his non-appearance in the court after completion of the high court interim bail. Court will take same procedure against him incase he fails to appear in the court in subsequent dates”, SDPO (Padmapur) told.

Meanwhile the Bargarh police have submitted a report to the NHRC in the rape case. The victim lady had appeared before NHRC a month ago in Bhubaneswar to seek justice in the gang rape incident, sources said.

school suspended 5 students for drugging teachers

A local public school has recently suspended 5 mischievous students from the school for drugging teachers on the teachers’ day. They mixed toxic-stuff (bhang) in the cold drink during the school function held on the eve of teachers’ day on 5^th September. 3 teachers including two females felt ‘uneasiness’ after taking the drink. The school management took this ‘action’ after a student confessed his guilty.

Sources said, the students of the local Gurunanak Public school had organized a programme on the eve of teachers’ day on 5^th September. They distributed refreshment to the teachers during the function. During the function cold drink was also served to the teachers. But few mischievous students of 10^th standards had mixed ‘bhang’ in the cola unnoticed to any one. At least 3 teachers including two females felt ‘uneasy’ after consuming the cold drink.

“Initially it was difficult to know the reason of their uneasiness. But from the symptom it was cleared that some intoxicant stuff was mixed with the cold drink. When we enquire into the matter a student confessed his ‘guilty’ and informed that they did it only for enjoyment”, the secretary of the school management Mr. Kamaljit Singh told.

According to him the school committee wanted to suspend the ‘guilty’ students from the school for ‘indefinite’ period but looking to their future career the committee would take a decision to consider their case “We informed their parents immediately and explained them about their mischievous act. We also cautioned them to ‘rusticate’ from the institution incase they show such act in future”, Mr. Kamaljit Singh, the management committee secretary told.

On the other hand the parents of the guilty students appealed the management committee to become lenient on the students. They have requested the management and school principal to pardon the students as they did it out of fun and anxiety with out knowing the consequences. “we have requested the school management to take lenient view on them as they are going to appear 10^th board with in few months” a parent told.

Meanwhile psychologists feel the environment and TV serials are mainly responsible for the changing behavior of the students. “For the changing behavior of the students, the modern equipments like TV, mobile and internet are mainly responsible. The family situation and living style will mainly reflect on their behavior”, the senior professor of Gangadhar Meher College Dr. Chapala Mishra told

Nua Khai is a festival of all communities

Nuakhai--the biggest socio-cultural festival of western part of the state is normally considered as a Hindu festival but it has got equal importance among the people of Christian and Muslim communities. When Hindus offer the new milky rice to their presiding deity, people of other community offer to their respecting gods. People of the region observed Nuakhai on Monday with gaiety and fanfare.

“Since it is an agrarian festival, farmers of the region offer their produce to their respective god and goddess. The festival is observed across the region in respective of caste, creed and religion. It is a thank-giving occasion as the farmer expresses his gratitude to the all-mighty for a good harvesting’, eminent personality of the region Karunakar Supakar told.

Sources said, people of western part of the region have observed Nua Khai on Monday with much gaiety and fanfare. However the colour of the festival was seen faded this year in rural part of the region because of the draught like situation due the poor rain fall and heavy destruction of standing crop by ledapoka (army worms). But the situation gives no impact on several social and cultural associations that organized ‘Bhet Ghat’ to enjoy the occasion in a special way. “We have organized ‘Bhet Ghat’ inside the premise of Samaleswari temple on Monday evening to observe the occasion, several eminent personalities including minister and political leaders have attended and offered their Nua Khai greeting that followed with cultural programme”, the chairman of the Samaleswari trust board Sadashib Mahapatra told. Similar programmes were also organized by the Orissa Sanskrutik Samaj, Lions Club, Chetna Natya Anusthan and western Orissa Kalyan Samiti to mark this occasion.

On the other hand people of the Christian community have celebrated the festival in many parts of the region. Churches are decorated with flowers and colour paper and people gathered inside the church to observe the occasion. “Since it is a local festival we do observe the festival inside the church with mass prayer and feast. Many of our community belong to schedule tribe from Sundergarh and Bolangir district who observe the festival since a long time”, a church official Sujit Fernandez pf Burla informed.

“People of Christian community of several part of the region consider the festival as their own. They offer the new rice to the god on this occasion. People celebrate the occasion with fan fare and marry making while celebrating the occasion among their family members”, the PRO of Sambalpur disese of Catholic father Alfonse Topo told. According to him churches of the region observe Nua Khai after the harvesting of paddy is over. “We do celebrate the occasion of Nua khai but in some other day after the harvesting of the paddy. We offer the new rice to the god and pray for prosperity and wellbeing of every one”, father Topo added.

Even few Muslim family of the region observes the festival in a special way. They take pleasure while observing the festival. ’Nua Khai’ is a festival that gives us immense pleasure. We celebrate the festival in our house cooking many items and pitha, Md. Zamirulla of Remda village of Jharsuguda district told.

draught and caterpillar marred nua khai celeration

The draught-like situation coupled with heavy destruction of paddy due to Ledapoka (swarming caterpillar) has marred ‘Nua khai’ this year scheduled to be observed on coming Monday (24^th Aug). Nua Khai, the biggest agrarian festival that celebrates by the farmers of the western Orissa paying gratitude to the presiding deity for a good harvesting. The festival is a thanksgiving ceremony. But this time farmers do not know how to celebrate the occasion when many of them have not even completed the farming due to delay in rain. The farmers of the irrigated areas though completed the farming, are also struggling hard because of the destruction caused by Ledapoka (swarming caterpillar).

“We have struggled hard because of the delay monsoon and Poor rainfall this year. But what ever little hope we have had, now ledapoka has ruined us completely and we do not how to continue our living’, Rabi Pradhan a farmer of worst affected Rengali block of the district said .

Sources said, Sambalpur district has alone 194,000 ha of cultivable land out of which paddy has been sown in more than 60,000 ha so far. While lack of rainfall have turned the paddy fields dry, swarming caterpillars have swarmed over thousands of hectares (ha) of land, completely eating away the green paddy leaves.

“The swarming caterpillar has a capacity to destroy hundreds of hectare overnight as the pest multiplies rapidly and can completely damage crop in a hector of land in one single day. Application of pesticide by farmers has not been able to eliminate the pests as they have already swarmed over a large chunk of areas. So unless government does not take immediate action to check the spreading of the pest, farmers will be left with no option than to commit suicide like Balaram Bhoi of Gulamal”, the farmers’ leader Ashok Pradhan told. It may be mentioned that Balaram Bhoi (42) a marginal farmer was kill-self on 10^th this month after he found his paddy completely damaged by the caterpillar.

Sambalpur Deputy Director of Agriculture D.C. Pal said, the situation is under control as we have already started taking all type of preoccupation to check the swarming caterpillars. This is not new in agriculture, but normally it wash away in the rain. This time due to lack of rain, it becomes multiplied and created a havoc," Dhruba Charan Pal said. “We have taken the matter seriously and already spraying pesticide in affected field since 14^th August. Already 2443 liters of insect killer liquid have been sprayed through 600 spraying machines, he added.

On the other hand, the pre-nua khai market of various villages has experienced low transaction due to the draught-like situation. “It is a time when we make a good business in the rural weekly markets prior to Nua Khai but this year we do not see any enthusiasm among the farmers. This year we have experienced ever low business”, Binod Sahu, one cloth peddler who moves various rural markets said.

Senier IAS officer killed family and shot self

Senior IAS officer Jagadananda panda and four of his closed relations were found dead in a pool of blood in his native Deogoan village on the early hours of Friday. The village of senior bureaucrat locates on the Bhatli road under Bargarh district, 60 km from here, has experienced most horrible incident that rocked each and every one of the village. Police suspected Panda to have shot himself after he killed 4 of his family members including father Manuswi Panda (81) two sisters Bijaylaximi and Kishori and wife Surekha (50). All including Panda have bullet injuries on heads as he fired from a point close range. His son Swapnesh (sonu) who also sustain bullet injuries on his head how ever rescues and now battling for his survival in the Hospital.
The cold-blooded drama begins at 2 am night after every one went to sleep. It was his neighbour and mother Chandrakanti who was sleeping in the upstairs of the house rushed to the spot after hearing the bullet. But every thing was almost closed in a tragic scene. “When we heard the sound we came at once but the house was locked inside. Mother opened the door after we shouted. It was horrible inside. When we found both Panda and his son Sonu to be alive we took them to the hospital”, his neighbour Artatran Tripathy told
Police rushed to the spot soon after the incident Police sent the body for autopsy. The suicidal notes .33 revolver and other documents, seized by the police from the house were sufficient to know the evil plan of Panda that conceived in his mind since the day he arrived Bhubaneswar on 27th July. Police registered a case and investigation was begun involving forensic and ballistic experts.
Jagadananda Panda, 83 batch of IAS officer of Orissa cadre was presently posted as ‘protocol general of emigration’ in the overseas department of external affairs ministry, New Delhi while he was on deputation. He was the only IAS officer of the state who served as RDC of all three division of the state. He was holding several posts during his service career. But he was quite upset after CBI raided his official residence and office at Delhi a week ago. Though CBI did not disclose any thing of the cause of the raid, but such raid was sufficient for any self esteem officer to become upset. The suicidal notes revealed that he was quite upset after the raid as he things himself innocent and “falsely implicated” in a emigration scam presently CBI has taken up the probe.
Panda took such a decision after landing in Bhubaneswar as he went to one ‘Jena armory’ where he used to keep his revolver. He brought his revolver along with 40 rounds of ammunitions from the shop. He even went to jungle in the private car he hired from Sambalpur where he tested his revolver with 3 blank fire. Panda told to the driver of the taxi that he wanted to test the revolver to know whether it works properly or not. When the frightened driver asked why he need the revolver, Panda to him he needs the revolver as he wanted to hunting, Police said quoting the statement of the driver.
On the other hand the his son Sonu who was admitted in VSS medical college hospital with bullet injuries on his head had undergone several tests. He remained unconscious since the incident took place. “We did CT scan and MRI test. He is now under medical treatment and his condition has been stable”, a doctor of VSS medical College hospital told. Later with the decision of the government he was shifted to Bhubaneswar through a plane in the evening.
Sources said, in the suicidal note seized by police Panda has advocated his innocently but ultimately situation forces him to such an extreme step. He mentioned that he was upset after the CBI raid. ‘Though innocent I was dragged in a case because of false implication. So I took this extreme step” the suicidal note revealed.
“We have recovered the dead bodies of Panda and 4 other family members. We seized the .32 bore pistol from the house. We have also seized a suicidal note and other documents written by late panda before he took this extreme step we have also registered a case u/s 302 (murder), 309 (suicide) and 306 (attempt to kill) IPC and sent the bodies for autopsy’, Mr. Y B Khurania, IG of police (northern range), Sambalpur said.
According to him the preliminary investigation and circumstances point every thing towards Panda who killed one after another and finally killed himself. “Our preliminary investigation shows that Panda, himself has done every thing. He came to his home village with a plan and finally executed it. However, confirmation of the case will be proved only after forensic and ballistic reports. The forensic experts from Sambalpur have already reached to the spot and the ballistic teams are on their way from Bhubaneswar”, Mr. Khurania told.
It may be mentioned here that Panda came Bhubaneswar with his wife and son on 27th July after taking 3 months leave from the secretary. He was totally upset after the CBI raid on his house and office. As usual he went to Jena armory, where he uses to keep his licensed revolver. He brought the revolver and purchased 40 rounds of cartridges. On 28th he back to his house in a taxi along with his wife and son.
“He even went to a secluded place 7 km away form his village in a car on Thursday till give a final shape to his evil by testing the revolver with 3 round gun fire. He told the driver that he wanted to “hunt’ when driver puts quarry on the blank fire”, quoting the driver IG of police Mr. Khurania told.
The death of panda has left every one baffle as he was a gentle and polish behaved persons. While he was in Sambalpur as RDC few years back he started a campaign of clean Sambalpur when he went in bicycle along with others activists to create awareness. “I was totally shocked to hear the news I talked to him just on 27th July the day he came to Bhubaneswar. He never disclosed me that he was so upset. He was even planned for a feast during nua khai. I can not believe a person like him would involve in any scam or illegal act”, Bijay Pradhan, lecturer of Rengali college and one of his college friend. Panda graduated in GM College, Sambalpur and Post graduation in JNU, New Delhi. He joined IAS in 1983 and became the sub-collector of Dharmagarh (Kalahandi). He holds several key posts including the RDC of all three divisions and relief commissioner before he went to New Delhi on Deputation.